Коллекционер

           Ilookedinthemirrorupstairs,butIcouldn’tseewhatshemeant.

           Sometimesshe’dcomeoutofthebluewithfunnyquestions.

           "DoyoubelieveinGod?"wasone.

           Notmuch,Ianswered.

           "Itmustbeyesorno."

           Idon’tthinkaboutit.Don’tseethatitmatters.

           "You’retheoneimprisonedinacellar,"shesaid.

           Doyoubelieve,Iasked.

           "OfcourseIdo.I’mahumanbeing."

           Shesaid,stoptalking,whenIwasgoingon.

           Shecomplainedaboutthelight."It’sthisartificiallight.Icanneverdrawbyit.Itlies."

           Iknewwhatshewasgettingat,soIkeptmymouthshut.

           Thenagain—itmaynothavebeenthatfirstmorningshedrewme,Ican’trememberwhichdayitwas—shesuddenlycameoutwith,"You’reluckyhavingnoparents.Minehaveonlykepttogetherbecauseofmysisterandme."

           Howdoyouknow,Isaid.

           "Becausemymother’stoldme,"shesaid."Andmyfather.Mymother’sabitch.Anastyambitiousmiddle-classbitch.Shedrinks."

           Iheard,Isaid.

           "Icouldneverhavefriendstostay."

           I’msorry,Isaid.Shegavemeasharplook,butIwasn’tbeingsarcastic.Itoldheraboutmyfatherdrinking,andmymother.

           "Myfather’sweak,thoughIlovehimverymuch.Doyouknowwhathesaidtomeoneday?Hesaid,Idon’tknowhowtwosuchbadparentscanhaveproducedtwosuchgooddaughters.Hewasthinkingofmysister,really.She’sthereallycleverone."

           You’rethereallycleverone.Youwonabigscholarship.

           "I’magooddraughtsman,"shesaid.